Stoker fuel distributing apparatus



Bec. H, 1934. H E` UPPERT 1,984,025

STOKER FUEL yDISTRBUTlNG APPARATUS Filed Jan, 23, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 11, 1934. H E UPPER-r STOKER FUEL DISTMBUTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 11, 1934 PATENT OFFICE STOKER FUEL DISTRIBUTIN G APPARATUS Henry E. Lippert, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Standard, Stoker Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Dela- Ware Application January 23,

12 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanical stokers of the type that transfers fuel to the rebox through an opening in the back wall thereof by a screw conveyor.

Ariv object of the invention `is the provision of improved fuel directing means in a stoker that conveys fuel directly to fluid jets by la helical screw.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical part sectional view taken on the center-line of a locomotive, the tender and a Stoker, showing the invention as applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the firing opening and the forward end cf the stoker. It illustrates the fuel directing mechanism and jet piping.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the preferred construction of the ilrebox lining support for the firing opening.

Fig. 4 is a part horizontal sectional view through the backhead illustrating the fuel directing and distributing apparatus. l

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4 but with portions broken away to show means for supplying steam to the jets.

This invention pertains particularly to the forward section or locomotive unit of a Stoker, but for the purpose of rendering the invention more clear, especially to those not skilled in the art, I will describe briefly the path of the coal from the tender to the firebox.

In Figure 1 the numeral 1 represents the tender unit or trough of the Stoker, which is flexibly mounted in tender 2. The trough 1 is connected at its forward end to the fixed inclined section 3 by the ball joint 4. Rollers 5, on the trough 1, rest on the tracks 6 and permit the trough 1 to move longitudinally in the tender 2 when the locomotive and tender travel on curves and Crossovers. TheI ball joint 4 allows for angular movement between the locomotive and tender as they travel on curves, crossovers, and turn tables.

The run-of-mine coal falls by gravity from the coal -bunker '1 into the trough l, where a conveying screw 8 (which is driven from its rear end in the well-known manner, not shown here) carries it forward to a screw conveyor comprising the inclined screws 9 and 10 in the inclined section 3, which deliver the coal to the redoor opening 11. The inclined screws 9 and 10 'are connected to each other and screw 9 is connected 1929, Serial No. 334,407

to the conveying screw 8 by the universal joints 12 and 13, respectively. The purpose of providing a plurality of screws in the inclined section 3 is to reduce the angle on the universal joint 13 that would be necessary if a single screw were used. If a single screw were used the inclined section'B would protrude through the cab deck 14 further rearward than is shown.

The coal distributing apparatus comprises mainly the table 15, the jet casting 16, and the dividing rib or defiecting vane 17. The jet casting 16 is disposed at the discharge end or mouth portion of the conduit 3 and forms a. fuel receiving surface over which the fuel advances. At

the forward end of the jet casting 16 is the downwardly extending flange 18. At the rear end of the table 15 is the downwardly extending flange 19. The jet casting 16 and the table 15, are secured together by the bolts 20 through the flanges 18 and 19. If the table 15 and jet casting 16 were cast integral it would be necessary to replace the entire casting when the front part burns away. By having the table 15 and jet casting 16 in separate pieces the table 15 can be renewed without wasting the jet casting 16.

The jet casting 16 is secured to the inclined section 3 by the hollow studs 21. It will be noted in Figure 4 that these studs 21 extend through the inclined section 3 and have the heads outside the inclined section so that the jet casting can be xed in position from the locomotive cab, without getting into the firebox. The fluid jets 22 are incommunication with the cored passage 23. Through the studs 21 are the drilled holes 24. 'Ihe drilled holes 24 are in communication at one end with the' cored passage 2 3 and at the other` end with the pipes 25 which lead to a steam supply. The pipes 25 have suitable valves (not shown) for regulating the pressure of the jets 22. As the coal falls over the edge 26 of the jet casting 16 the fluid jets 22 distribute the coal evenly to all parts of the fire-bed. It will be seen the firing opening 11 is of greater width than the fuel passage of the inclined conduit section 3 and that the fastening studs 21 are positioned between the sides of the firing opening and the longitudinal vertical plane of the aforesaid fuel passage. with the discharge of coal.

For controlling and varying the distribution of fuel over the firebed, a dividing rib 17 is pro-g vided. It is pivoted at its forward end to the jet casting 16 and extends back under the tapered end 28 of the screw 10. A rod 29 is connected The studs therefore will not interfere to the back end of the dividing rib 17 and extends through the opening to the outside of the inclined section 3. 'Ihe outside end of the rod 29 is connected to the forward end of a lever 31. The lever 31 is hinged at its rear end to the inclined section 3 and is moved by a hand wheel 32, which is located intermediate the ends of the lever. By turning the hand wheel 32 the dividing rib 17 will be moved side-ways by means of the lever 31 and rod 29 and direct more coal to one side or the other.

The inclined section 3 is held in position and rigidly secured to the mudring of the backhead by a suitable bracket 33. The studs 34 extend through the flanges 35 on the sides of the inclined section 3 for securing the upper end of the inclined section to the backhead.

The bricks above and at the sides of a ring opening in a brick lined backhead become loose and often fall out. To prevent this I have provided the support 36 in the ring opening. The support 36 is a three sided xture having flanges 37, 38 and 39 in contact with the top and sides of the ring opening respectively. The flanges v 40, 41 and 42 are for securing the support to the outside of the backhead. The support 36 is provided with a cored passage 43 in the flanges 40, 41 and 42 which is open at the bottom 44. The flanges 37, 38, and 39 are provided with a series of grooves 45 for making a communication between the cored passage 43 and the inside of the firebox. By this construction air is sucked in the bottom 44 of the support 36, up the side anges, around the top and through the grooves by the locomotive draft, which keeps the flanges 37, 38 and 39 cool and prevents them from burning away.

I claim:

1. In a locomotive having a backhead provided with a firing opening, fuel distributing means projecting in said opening, a conduit section in communication with said opening, a screw section in the conduit section for delivering fuel to said opening and discharging. it forward to said distributing means, the discharge end of the screw section being tapered to a diameter smaller than that of its remaining portion, and a dividing rib in the path of the fuel for directing the flow of fuel to said distributing means, said rib being positioned beneath the tapered end of said screw and substantially central thereof.

2. In a locomotive having a backhead provided with a firing opening, a Stoker conduit in communication with said opening, a fuel distributing plate in said opening, means for discharging fuel from said plate, a conveyor screw in said conduit for delivering fuel to said'opening and discharging it forward substantially in ythe direction of its conveyance path to said distributing plate, and a directing rib hinged on an upright axis between the forward end of said screw and said distributing plate in the path of the fuel, the rear end of said rib being beneath the forward end of said screw.

3. In a locomotive having a frebox provided with a firing opening, an inclined Stoker conduit in communication with said opening,- a distributor plate extending forward from the upper end of said conduit, a conveyor screw in said conduit for delivering fuel to said plate, a hinged dividing rib positioned between the delivery end of said screw and the distributor plate and substantially central of saidplate, the rear end of said rib being beneath the delivery end of said screw, a rod connected to said dividing rib, an

armlconnected to said rod, a hand wheel and connecting means therefrom to said arm for moving the same thereby moving said dividing rib.

4. In a locomotive having a rebox provided with a ring opening, an inclined stoker conduit in communication with said opening, a conveyor screw in said conduit for delivering fuel to said opening, the. forward end of said screw being of decreased diameter, a distributor plate extending forward from the upper end of said conduit into said opening, means for discharging fuel from said plate, a hinged dividing rib positioned in the path of the fuel beneath the delivery end of said screw and above the level of said plate for directing the flow of fuel, said rib being mounted in the firing opening and having its rear end extending outside the flrebox, a rod connected to the rear end of said dividing rib and extending along the floor of said conduit through 5. In a locomotive having a iirebox provided with a firing opening, an inclined conduit section in communication with said opening, a distributor plate extending forward from the upper end of said section into the iirebox, means for discharging fuel from said plate, a conveyor screw in said conduit section for transferring fuel through substantially the entire length of said section and discharging it forward at its upper end to said plate, the forward end of said screw being of decreased diameter, a hinged dividing rib positioned in the path of the fuel between the discharge end of said screw and said plate, the rear end of said rib being beneath the forward end of said screw, a handwheel mounted on said conduit, and operative means connecting the handwheel with the dividing rib for moving the latter.

6. In combination with a iirebox having a wall provided with a flring opening, fuel distributing means in said opening, a conduit section having a discharge portion in communication with said opening, a screw section in the conduit section for delivering fuel to said opening and discharging it forward to said distributing means, the discharge portion of said conduit section being beneath the discharge end of said screw and having its fuel receiving surface disposed beneath the discharge end of said screw forming a space for the passage of fuel, and a dividing rib in such space and in the path of the fuel for directing the ow of fuel to said distributing means, the rear end of said rib being positioned beneath the discharge end of said screw and substantially central thereof.

7. In combination with a locomotive having a flrebox provided with a firing opening in its backwall, a Stoker conduit in vcommunication with said firing opening, an attachment flange formed with said stoker conduit for securing the same to the outer portion of said backwall, a chambered jet casting positioned in said liring opening, and hollowed studs extending through said attachment flange exterior of the passage in said stoker conduit for securing said `chambered jet casting to said stoker conduit,

said hollowed studs forming passages for the introduction of pressure fluid to said chambered jet casting.

8. In combination with a locomotive having a flrebox provided with a backwall having a firing opening therein, a stoker conduit in communicaedge substantially in alignment with the inside surface of said backwall, means exterior of the passage in said conduit for detachably securing said chambered jet casting to said stoker conduit, said means forming a passage for the introduction of pressure iiuid to said chambered jet casting, a distributor plate positioned in the firebox forward of said jet casting provided with a downwardly extending flange at its rearward end, and means for detachably securing said plate to the jet casting extending through said flange.

9. In combination with a ilrebox having a wall provided with a firing opening, fuel distributing means in said opening, a conduit section having -a discharge portion in communication with said opening, a screw section in the conduit section for delivering fuel to said opening and discharging it forward to said distributing means, the dischargesportion of said conduit section being beneath the discharge end of said screw and having its fuel receiving surface disposed beneath the aforesaid end of the screw forming therewith a space for the passage of fuel to said fuel distributing means, and a deecting vane in such space and in the path of the fuel for directing the flow of fuel to said distributing means, the rear end of said vane being positioned beneath the discharge end of said screw.

I 10. In combination withxa firebox having an upstanding wall with a ring opening therein, a stoker conduit having a mouth portion terminatc ing/adjacent the outside surface of said iirebox wall and communicating with the firing opening, said ring opening being of greater width than the fuel passage of the conduit at its mouth portion, a chambered jet member separable from said conduit positioned in the firing opening and extending yforwardly from the conduit mouth portion, and means at either side and exterior of the conduit fuel passage between the longitudinal vertical plane of the adjacent side of the lpassage and the longitudinal vertical plane of the adjacent side of the ring opening fox securing said chambered jet member in the aforesaid position.

11. In combination with a flrebox having an upstanding wall with a firing openingthereinl a stoker conduit having a mouth portion terminating adjacent the outside surface of said nrebox wall and communicating withk `the firing opening, said iiingopening being of greater width than the fuel passage of the conduit at its mouth portion, an attachment ange formed with the conduit at each side thereof at its mouth portion extending laterally therefrom and disposed adjacent the rebox wall for attachment of the conduit to the wall, .a chambered jet member positioned in the ring opening extending forwardly from the conduit mouth portion, and means engaging said chambered jet member and said attachment iiange'at either side and exterior of the conduit fuel passage between the longitudinal vertical plane of the adjacent side of the passage and the longitudinal vertical plane of the adjacent side of the firing opening for securing said chambered jet member in the aforesaid position.

12. In combination with a flrebox having an upstanding wall with a ringopening therein, a stoker conduitihaving a mouth portion terminating adjacent the outside surface of said firebox wall and communicating with the firing opening, said firing opening being of greaterwidth than the fuel passage of the conduit at its mouth portion, a chambered. jet member separable from said conduit positioned in the firing opening and extending forwardly frontA the con duit mouth portion, and means at either side and exterior of the conduit fuel passagebetween the longitudinal vertical plane of the adjacent side of the passage and the longitudinal vertical plane of the adjacent side of the nring opening for securing said chambered jet member to said stoker conduit. A

, HENRY E. I.\IPPERT. 

